Chess president pays visit

Press, 6 October 1988, Page 40

Chess president pays visit

By

MICHAEL ROCKS

Last March, the following item appeared in various newspapers throughout the country: 1 “The prospect of holding the world chess championships in New Zealand in 1990 is being considered by the New Zealand Chess Association, according to Sir John Marshall, its president. This follows discussions between Sir John and Sir Ronald Scott, chairman of the Hillary' Commission.” Responding to an invitation from Sir John, Mr Florencio Campomanes, president of F.I.D.E. (World Chess Federation), visited New Zealand last week for discussions with N.Z.C.A. and Hillary Commission officials regarding a possible bid to host the match. While in Christchurch, Mr Campomanes inspected the facilities at the Town Hall and Parkroyal Hotel. The alternative venue is the Michael Fowler Centre-Plaza International Hotel in Wellington. The world chess championship, since the days of the Bobby Fischer-Boris Spassky match, is a major media event. The opening of the London leg of the 1986 match attracted some 700 journalists, the majority of whom would not have been attached to specialist chess publications and, therefore, would have been in a position to cover other events.

Although it may seem strange to New Zealanders that anybody would want to watch people play chess, let alone pay for the privilege, spectators are the norm overseas, often in numbers in excess of, for example, local

test cricket match crowds. Chess fans in their hundreds are expected to visit the city for some of the match. Unlike a football game, visitors will be here for several days at a time rather than a single night — an obvious boost to the local tourist industry. The match itself would last somewhere between 20 and 72 days. The cost is estimated to be in the region of $lO million and the expected starting date is late September, 1990. The benefit to the city if the match was held here would depend upon what we decided to do. Given that the match itself would basically benefit the tourist industry, other groups should look at staging complementary events to attract the attention of the foreign media and visitors.

For instance, the world champion, Garri Kasparov, is from the Soviet Union, New Zealand's sixteenth largest trading partner. Currently, trade, which is heavily in New Zealand’s favour, is dominated by agricultural products and raw materials. The manufacturing sector of

the region should consider promoting an industries fair and with emphasis on expansion of the Soviet and East European trade. The process of determining the challenger is still under way, with representatives from England, the Netherlands, Canada, Iceland, Hungary and the Soviet Union still in the running. The attraction of another East-West clash would enliven media interest and offers another target for any trade promotion. The decision on the venue is likely to be announced about this time next year by F.I.D.E. At this early stage, only New Zealand has expressed interest in hosting the match, although another four or five countries are likely to announce bids closer to the deadline. The possibilities surrounding an event of this magnitude are almost boundless. The world chess championship could even be incorporated into the treaty anniversary celebrations in the city. The only cloud upon the horizon, according to Sir Ronald Scott, is that he detects a greater level of excit-

ment in Wellington at the prospect of hosting the match. The success or otherwise of a local bid for this event will ultimately depend upon the enthusiasm and energy of the whole community.

This week's problem is by C. P. Sydenham. White is to mate in two moves. Solution to No. 27: (2KlQnlr/ sPlk/ 3R2RI/ 6pl/4Blpl/24). Try 1 Qe7? g 3! Key 1 Qd7 (No threat simply a waiting move). 1 ... Nxd7ch 2 RgB mate. 1 ... Ne6ch 2 fBN mate. 1 ... Nxg6ch 2 fBQ mate. 1 ... RgB 2 fxgBQ mate. 1 ... g 3 2 Qh3 mate.